Chapter 26: Suppressing the Bandits

The day He Yan left the Zhou Academy, the falling leaves in the courtyard drifted in silence.

The Zhou Academy continued as usual; every month, new faces arrived with longing, and there was no shortage of disciples who left in gloom, knowing their path had been severed.

The departure or stay of a Ming-level disciple was like a withered leaf falling in autumn, stirring not even the slightest ripple.

Those who could truly take root in the Zhou Academy were always the core disciples who had already reached the An-level.

Since He Yan's departure, Chen Qing had practiced even more diligently.

He was the first to arrive at the academy every day and the last to leave.

He wanted to complete his progress as quickly as possible and reach the An-level at the earliest opportunity.

"I heard it's because of what happened to He Yan."

"Even breaking through to the Ming-level is a struggle; what good will working oneself to death do?"

The disciples in the courtyard shook their heads in secret upon hearing this.

Chen Qing ignored the gazes of the other disciples and continued to bury himself in hard training.

On this day, after completing a patrol of the academy, Zhou Liang departed in a hurry.

"Phew!"

After practicing his stance training once more, Chen Qing felt his blood and qi surging, and even his mind felt ethereal.

【Heaven rewards the diligent; success is certain】

【Tongbei Stance Training: Minor Accomplishment (951/1000)】

Looking at his palms, he thought to himself, "My blood and qi have now reached a peak. In a few days, I will be able to attempt my second breakthrough."

With every breakthrough, one's strength underwent a heaven-and-earth transformation.

As the sun set, Zhou Liang returned to the martial academy with a weary body and immediately summoned Zhou Yu, Sun Shun, and the others for a meeting.

Before long, Sun Shun hurried out and assembled all the Ming-level disciples in the courtyard.

"Senior Brother Sun, has something happened?" a disciple couldn't help but ask.

Sun Shun scanned the crowd and said in a heavy voice, "Pirates have been rampant in White Wave Bay lately. The Commandant intends to leave the city to suppress them and is currently recruiting experts from within the county. The reward for a Ming-level martial artist is five taels of silver, along with five portions of Blood Qi Powder; An-level experts can receive twenty taels of silver and three Blood Qi Pills."

"The Commandant will lead this suppression mission, and the five great clans have also mobilized three Hua-level experts."

"Do any of you have thoughts on this?"

The courtyard erupted in an uproar at these words.

One must know that an ordinary Ming-level martial artist's monthly salary was only two or three taels of silver, let alone the precious cultivation resources.

Furthermore, with the Commandant personally leading the team and three Hua-level experts from the five great clans providing backup, the mission was virtually foolproof.

Immediately, many disciples grew restless.

After a period of discussion, disciples soon began to sign up.

"Senior Brother Sun, I'll go too."

At that moment, Qin Lie spoke up.

His desire to join the suppression was naturally not for the silver, but for combat experience.

Sun Shun was slightly taken aback. "Junior Brother Qin, do you really want to go?"

"Martial arts is never just about bitter cultivation, and fighting isn't just about hitting wooden posts," Qin Lie said loudly. "To practice martial arts, one must be bold!"

Zhou Yu's beautiful eyes turned toward Qin Lie, tinged with surprise.

Following him, many disciples responded in kind.

Sun Shun asked, "Junior Brother Chen, what about you?"

Chen Qing cupped his hands in a respectful salute and said, "This junior's strength is meager; I shall not join the fray."

Suppression?!

Swords and blades have no eyes; who knows if a hidden expert might suddenly appear? It was safer to practice in the academy.

Sun Shun did not force him and nodded. "Those who wish to go, come to me later to register."

***

The Chen Family Ancestral Home.

Old Man Chen sat on the steps with a hunched back, the tobacco in his copper pipe flickering on and off, sending wisps of blue smoke into the twilight.

*Creak—!*

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and Chen Heng stepped over the threshold drenched in sweat, the back of his training uniform soaked through.

The old man hurriedly put down his pipe, his wrinkles deepening with heartache. "Practicing this late again? Come, rest your feet."

"Grandpa, I'm not tired. This bit of hardship is nothing."

Chen Heng wiped the sweat from his forehead and then said, "There is something I want to tell you."

The old man took a puff of smoke and tapped the ash against the steps. "What is it? Speak."

Chen Heng glanced at the old man and said, "My blood and qi accumulation is almost complete, and I need to break through to the An-level. My senior brothers all say that a breakthrough requires Blood Qi Pills for nourishment..."

The old man asked instinctively, "How much silver for these Blood Qi Pills?"

He remembered the Blood Qi Powder was one tael per packet; wouldn't these pills be even more expensive?

Chen Heng hesitated for a moment before gathering his courage. "Five taels of silver per pill."

"What!?"

The old man's hand shook, and his pipe nearly fell to the ground.

Five taels of silver! That was enough to feed the four members of the Chen family for half a year!

"Grandpa, don't worry."

Seeing the old man's reaction, Chen Heng hurriedly added, "I used connections to get them for three taels. For six taels, I can buy two, which will last two months."

The old man's brow furrowed into a knot.

Three taels of silver was no small sum either!

Over the years, they had lived frugally, pawned everything they could, and borrowed from everyone they knew; they hadn't even finished repaying the favors owed to the neighbors.

Second Aunt hurried out from the kitchen. "Father, Xiao Heng is at a critical juncture. We cannot skimp on this money!"

"But the family..."

The old man sighed heavily. "We truly cannot afford this money."

Chen Heng whispered from the side, "Grandpa, the senior brothers in the martial hall all use these... if there is no..."

He trailed off, letting out a heavy sigh.

That sigh sat like a stone on the old man's heart.

Old Man Chen took a deep drag of smoke, his cloudy eyes filled with exhaustion.

How could he not want his grandson to succeed?

"Xiao Heng," the old man took a deep breath and sighed, "This is all the family has left. Can you wait a little longer? Or perhaps borrow from your senior brothers at the hall? Didn't you say they..."

"Grandpa!"

Chen Heng grew anxious, his voice involuntarily rising. "The senior brothers also need resources for their cultivation; where would they have extra money to lend me? Besides, at such a critical moment, wait? Can we afford to wait?"

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, as if his entire future were truly being strangled by these "few taels of silver."

Seeing this, Second Aunt immediately stood up, walked to the old man's side, and lowered her voice. "Father, Xiao Heng is an ambitious boy; we cannot hold him back."

Her eyes darted around as she leaned closer. "How about... Eldest Sister's house? Or... the eldest son's house?"

The hand holding the pipe jerked violently, and ash cascaded down.

He looked up sharply, his cloudy eyes full of shock and resistance. "Go to them? You... how can you ask me to open my mouth like that?!"

"Why can't I?"

Second Aunt's tone carried a sense of matter-of-fact urgency. "Xiao Heng put in so much effort regarding that Black Water Gang matter... Besides, our Xiao Heng is going to take the Martial Scholar exam. Once he has official status, won't they benefit from it too? Helping him now is providing charcoal in the snow! As for the eldest son's house..."

She paused. "They must have some savings, right? They are a widow and orphans; aren't they saving money for Ah Qing anyway? But Ah Qing's aptitude... how can it compare to Xiao Heng's future? Lending the money to Xiao Heng is putting it where it counts! It's better than letting it go to waste on Ah Qing!"

Old Man Chen hesitated. "They are a widow and orphans; their lives are already difficult enough."

"Grandpa!"

Chen Heng couldn't help but interject, his voice cracking. "Do you have the heart to watch all my progress go to waste? If I fail this breakthrough, our Chen family truly will have no hope! Think about it, once I become a Martial Scholar and our taxes are reduced, won't life be easier? We can pay them back then—even double!"

Double back!?

Old Man Chen gave a bitter laugh, his wrinkled face contorting in pain.

Ultimately, as if his last shred of strength had been drained, he slumped back into his chair. "Fine... you two women go to Eldest Sister's house. Be polite when you speak..."

"As for the eldest son's house... I will go myself..."

A smile immediately bloomed on Second Aunt's face. "Ah! Don't worry, Father, I know my place! Xiao Heng, hurry and pack up, we're going to your Eldest Aunt's house right now!"

She nudged Chen Heng, her eyes gleaming with a sense of determined triumph.